COMMUNITY AID OF ELK RIVER

CAER HAS BEEN SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ELK RIVER, ZIMMERMAN AND OTSEGO SINCE 1979 THROUGH THE COLLECTION OF FOOD AND PERSONAL CARE ITEM DONATIONS. ADDITIONAL ITEMS ARE PURCHASED BY CAER WITH CASH DONATIONS RECEIVED. EACH DONATION DOLLAR PROVIDES THE PURCHASING POWER TO PROVIDE THREE MEALS TO CLIENTS. TO ASSIST OUR CLIENTS IN STRETCHING THEIR FOOD BUDGETS TO INCLUDE FRESH PRODUCE, CAER FORGED ALLIANCES WITH SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND, THE FOOD GROUP FOOD BANKS, AS WELL AS LOCAL GROWERS AND GROCERS TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FRESH PRODUCE OFFERED. IN TOTAL FOR ALL PROGRAMS IN 2023, CAER PROVIDED 1,060,305 POUNDS OF FOOD TO THE COMMUNITIES OF ELK RIVER, ZIMMERMAN, OTSEGO AND SURROUNDING AREAS. IN 2010, CAER IMPLEMENTED A SUMMER PROGRAM CALLED "KIDZ KITZ". THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO HELP FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL KID-FRIENDLY FOOD, PRODUCE, MILK AND BAKERY ITEMS AS WEEKLY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PACKAGES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. IN 2020, WITH THE SUDDEN SHIFT TO DISTANCE LEARNING, THE KIDZ KITZ PROGRAM WAS IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENTED FROM MARCH TO AUGUST. CAER RENAMED THE KIDZ KITZ PROGRAM TO THE KIDS WEEKEND CAER PACKAGE IN APRIL 2021. IT WAS RESTRUCTURED TO PROVIDE WEEKEND FOOD ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES YEAR-ROUND. IN 2023, 8,243 CHILDREN (DUPLICATED) RECEIVED A KIDS WEEKEND CAER PACKAGE. ADDITIONAL FOOD OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN 2023 INCLUDED PROVIDING NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS TO OPEN DOORS FOR YOUTH, (A DROP-IN CENTER FOR HOMELESS AND AT- RISK YOUTH) AND THUMBS UP YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL/SUMMER PROGRAM TOTALLING OVER 2,859 POUNDS. WE ALSO PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 80 EMERGENCY FOOD BAGS (1,051 POUNDS)TO SHERBURNE COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. CAER SERVES LOW-INCOME SENIORS IN ZIMMERMAN AND ELK RIVER BY DELIVERING BOTH PERISHABLE AND NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS TO SENIOR HOUSING UNITS. IN 2023, WE PROVIDED 25,997 POUNDS OF FOOD THROUGH 753 DELIVERIES. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHURCH OF SAINT ANDREW, IN 2023 WE PROVIDED PRODUCE DISTRIBUTIONS TOTALLING 27,606 POUNDS OF FOOD. THE VISION OF CAER IS THAT HUNGER IS NO LONGER A BARRIER TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

CAER PROVIDES EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE MAINTAIN OR OBTAIN HOUSING, GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES. WE SEEK TO PREVENT EVICTION AND UTILITY SHUT OFF ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENTS. OUR SERVICE AREA IS EXTENDED FOR THIS ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS IN THE CITIES OF ELK RIVER, BIG LAKE, BECKER, OTSEGO AND ZIMMERMAN. IN 2023, 122 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED HOUSING OR UTILITY ASSISTANCE.